Camellia by Frances

Image copyright Frances Brown 2013

Spring Flowers - Freesias by Janet

Image copyright Janet Denne 2013

These pretty freesia hybrid flowers are a pretty soft mauve colour. Many of these hybrid varieties have been bred for flowers, and do not have the sweet perfume of wild freesias.  These were photographed last Spring, in Sydney by Janet. Despite the warm Autumn weather lately, I've noticed this year's Freesia plants starting to pop up in my garden and in the lawn in the past few weeks.

More Spring flowers next week on Flowers by Friends. Enjoy!

White Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalas) by Liz

Image copyright Liz Orr 2014

Snowdrops are one of the first bulbs to flower at the end of winter - these ones are flowering now in Scotland. The name Galanthus means "milk flower".

Pineapple Lily (Eucomis) by Liz

Image copyright Liz Orr 2014

An amazing photo of a tall "Pineapple Lily", a native of South Africa,  surrounded by mauve crocuses, sent in by Liz.  This plant is in the Asparagus plant family.

Anniversary Rose by Sophie

Image copyright Sophie Wilson 2013

This gorgeous rose is from the garden of Sophie and Tony.

Red Poppy (Shirley Series) by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

Another gorgeous bright red poppy from Liz.

Hardy Fuchsia by Liz

Image copyright 2103 Liz Orr

Red Poppies by Romaine

Image copyright 2013 Romaine Moss

Photo taken in Tuscany, Italy

Red Begonias by Frances

Image copyright 2013 Frances Brown

Garden Classics - David Austin Rose (William Shakespeare) by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

This beautiful, richly coloured rose was photographed in Scotland by Liz

Unusual flowers - Shrimp (Prawn) plant by Frances

Image copyright 2013 Frances Brown

Shrimp plant (Drejerella) is of Mexican origin. It has red/green bracts (modified leaves) which are segmented, something like the body of a prawn or shrimp. The actual flower is the white and red part in the centre.

Spring Blossom by Romaine

Image copyright 2013 Romaine Moss

This beautiful Spring blossom was photographed by Romaine in Tuscany in May.

First week of Spring - Hot Pink Freesias

 Image copyright 2013 Frances Brown

Spotted in a neighbour's garden, this "massing" freesia hybrid has multiple flowers and a wonderfully vibrant hot pink colour - but not much perfume.

Winter blues - Clematis Royal Blue by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

Clematis are members of the same family as buttercups -the Ranunculaceae family.

Winter Blues - Harebell (Scottish bluebell) by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

It's all blue flowers this week to celebrate the last week of Winter (in Sydney) and the end of "the Winter blues". 

Meanwhile, in Scotland they are enjoying the last weeks of Summer. This beautiful Scottish wildflower - known as bluebell in Scotland (Campanula rotundifolia) or harebell was photographed by Liz. These flowers are popular with the bumble bees and provide them with an important source of nectar in Autumn.

Wisteria sinensis (Chinese Wisteria) by Romaine

Image copyright 2013 Romaine Moss

Chinese wisteria, a climbing plant, usually flowers in Sydney during September and October.  I'm looking forward to seeing these perfumed lavender blue clusters of flowers making their appearance next month! Other varieties of wisteria have white, pale pink, lilac, rosy mauve or violet flowers.

Bearded Iris (Iris xiphium) by Georgie

Image copyright 2013 Georgie Brown

Also known as Dutch irises, these hybrid plants were originally developed from the Spanish Iris. The brightly coloured flowers grow from bulbs and appear in late Winter and early Spring. Photo taken in Perth, Western Australia by Georgie.

Hippeastrum by Lynda

Image copyright Lynda Shrimpton 2013

Hippeastrums grow from bulbs and are big funnel shaped flowers about 20cm across. In Sydney they usually appear about October. 

Lithodora by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

It's slightly unusual to see truly blue flowers in nature. Lithodora are low growing shrubs with 5 lobed flowers in Summer, in various shades of blue or white. "Lith" means rock, so my guess is that these are popular rockery plants. Photo taken in Scotland by Liz.

Water Lily by Julia

Image copyright 2013 Julia Brown

Photographed by Julia at Eden Gardens in Sydney